As protesting farmers clashed with police at several places in Delhi on Tuesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted that violence cannot be a solution to any problem. He once again urged the Central government  to take back the new farm laws, which are at the centre of a 62-day old protest by farmers.

(Live updates of farmers’ protest)

“Violence is not a solution to any problem. No matter who gets hurt, our country will suffer. In the interest of the country, take back the anti-farmer law,” the Congress leader tweeted as news poured in of violent clashes in Delhi’s ITO, Red Fort and Nangloi. A farmer died in the clashes.

Another Congress leader and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also appealed to the protesting farmers to maintain peace, adding that resorting to violence will lead to success of forces that are trying to make the farmers’ movement unsuccessful.

Expressing similar views, Thiruvananthapuram lawmaker Shashi Tharoor said issue must be sorted out with democratic means.

“Saddened to learn of the death of a protestor and agree that violence must be avoided by both protestors and authorities – it resolves nothing and  resorting to it reduces the state to the level of its enemies. We must resolve this crisis through democratic means, not force,” the Congress leader said.

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Chaotic scenes were witnessed at ITO, where hundreds of protesters could be seen chasing police personnel with sticks and ramming their tractors into the buses parked by police. A bus was also vandalised by the farmers.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said that the violence was “unacceptable” and urged all “genuine farmers” to vacate the national capital. 

Taking to Twitter, Singh said, “Shocking scenes in Delhi. The violence by some elements is unacceptable. It’ll negate goodwill generated by peacefully protesting farmers. Kisan leaders have disassociated themselves & suspended #TractorRally. I urge all genuine farmers to vacate Delhi & return to borders.”

Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar, whose Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is a partner in the Maharashtra coalition government, said that the central government has failed in its responsibility of maintaining law and order.

“Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh held protest in a disciplined manner but government didn’t take them seriously. As restraint ended, the tractor march was taken out. Centre’s responsibility was to keep law and order in control but they failed,” Pawar was quoted as saying by ANI.

Earlier, the police fired tear gas shells and lathicharged farmers as protestors broke past barricades with tractors at different border points and allegedly did not follow the pre-decided routes for their march in the national capital.

The Delhi Police had given permission to farmers to hold their tractor parade on selected routes only after the official Republic Day parade on the Rajpath concluded.

Tens of thousands of farmers have camped on the outskirts of the capital since November, protesting against new laws. Union leaders say the laws will allow private Indian conglomerates to take over the agriculture industry — the rockbed of the economy — and replace a system of purchases by the government at guaranteed prices.